Netsmart Technologies Selected by Wake County, N.C. to Provide Behavioral Healthcare Software and Implementation Services

Netsmart is Now Technology Partner of Choice for Nearly 20 North Carolina Providers and Local Management Entities (LMEs)

Great River, NY (July 08, 2008) – Netsmart Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise-wide software and services for health and human services organizations, today announced it has signed a contract with Wake County, North Carolina, to provide behavioral healthcare software and related implementation services. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Wake County Human Services (WCHS) will utilize Netsmart’s Avatar Practice Management software for behavioral health services management, client scheduling, billing, accounts receivables and reporting. In addition, the county will use Avatar Clinician Workstation for key behavioral health clinical activities, including assessment, progress notes, treatment planning and reporting.

Netsmart is now the technology partner of choice for more North Carolina providers and Local Management Entities (LMEs) combined than any other software company.

“Our more than 20 years experience serving a variety of North Carolina providers and LMEs will help us meet the wide ranging needs of Wake County,” said James L. Conway, chief executive officer, Netsmart Technologies. “We look forward to serving as Wake County’s technology partner as they provide high quality care to consumers in an efficient, cost-effective manner.”

WCHS provides social services, public health, mental health, job training, child support and housing services through 27 locations and provides support for consumers through 82 agency services. WCHS already utilizes Netsmart’s Insight software for public health clinic management.

The Netsmart system will provide an end-to-end resource for WCHS, including managing information for service authorizations, clinical and electronic medical record (EMR) documentation, billing, and payment tracking.

“While in the process of enhancing our LME, we found a very promising product that has also been embraced by other LMEs. This product has the ability to address the unique data collection and reporting requirements associated with our dual role as a service provider and LME,” said Ramon Rojano, director, Wake County Human Services. “With its Connected Care capabilities, we will be able to share client information within our organization in a more efficient way, but still in compliance with client privacy and security guidelines.”

The Wake County LME will utilize Netsmart’s Avatar Managed Services Organization (MSO) solution to manage and monitor the provision of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse treatment services for the Wake County area. Avatar MSO will also facilitate payment tracking for the LME with third party funding sources as well as facilitate data reporting to the State of North Carolina.

In addition, the Wake County LME will use Netsmart’s CareLink Web-based portal to enable providers to communicate with the Wake County LME electronically, increasing the speed and efficiency of claims processing and reporting, and helping assure that only authorized services are submitted to the LME for payment.

Source: Netsmart